At its regular meeting in Houghton today, Michigan Technological University’s Board
of Trustees approved a recommendation to award Senator Gary Peters with an Honorary
Doctor of Philosophy at Spring Commencement.

In its recommendation to the Board, Michigan Tech’s administration noted that Senator
Peters has been a “strong, independent voice for Michigan families and small businesses”
who is “focused on uniting our communities by fighting for the things that we all
agree on — a stronger economy, good-paying jobs, affordable health care, a secure
retirement and a fair chance for everyone to succeed.”

Senator Peters will be the speaker at Michigan Tech’s Spring Commencement on May 5,
2018.

A Culture of Safety

Vice President for Administration Ellen Horsch gave a presentation to the Board on
developing and maintaining a safety culture in a Lean environment. The Lean Principles provide a framework for optimizing the University’s efficiency and effectiveness.

“A Lean approach not only promotes continuous improvement,” Horsch said, “but it also
provides Michigan Tech with a way to examine work processes, and that makes the workplace
safer.”

In her presentation, Horsch listed numerous Michigan Tech safety and Lean champions,
including the Department of Public Safety and Police Services, the Health and Safety
Task Force and the Incident Command Team. Michigan Tech was recently named the safest
campus in the country by College Magazine.

In other business, the Board:

Adopted a Resolution of Appreciation for the Presidential Search Committee;

Learned that student application figures for the 2018-19 academic year remain the
highest ever for Michigan Tech and are well above figures from the same time period
last year;

Received an update from the Presidential Search Committee;

Received an update on the searches for deans of the College of Engineering, the College
of Sciences and Arts, the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science and
the School of Technology; and

Received an update on research and sponsored programs.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than
7,000 students from 60 countries around the world. Founded in 1885, the University
offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology,
engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics,
and social sciences. Our beautiful campus in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula overlooks
the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior.

About the Author

Stefanie Sidortsova

Stefanie leads the University's communications strategy and serves as a special assistant
for state relations endeavors. Her professional background includes experience in
law, government relations, higher education administration, and creative writing.